Fundraising…
It’s one of the things that scared me most when considering the race. How do you fundraise for this? Because let’s be honest… IT’S A LOT OF MONEY! This is not my job; it’s not in my wheel house.
My initial excuses and objections are as follows:
1. I’m a pretty shy person, and fundraising isn’t for the faint of heart.
2. Asking people for money is uncomfortable.
3. It takes a bold person to talk finances with confidence.
4. And… what if they say ‘no’? What then?
That’s how I felt about it though; the World Race is a big move that requires a financial commitment. $18,700 of commitment to be exact.
So 8 months ago, I met with my friend Sarah, who I had only known for about 4 months. We met for lunch at her work place and sat outside on a bench. “I’m 85% sure that God is inviting me to do this… I’m ready to do this… it’s going to be AWESOME,” I said.Then I paused and followed up with, “but I’m fearful of this fundraiser thing.”
She flat out responded, “If you’re 85% sure, what is the other 15% that’s keeping you from committing and being all in? What is keeping you from being obedient?”
My response was full of fear:
“I think one of my biggest hold ups is this fundraiser thing.”
God sure has a funny way of walking us through our hang-ups and fears. Something you don’t know about Sarah- and I didn’t really understand at the time- is that she is a career fundraiser. I’m thankful God arranged our lunch that day and even more thankful He gave me the strength to be vulnerable and honest about my fear.
Sarah gave me a book by Henri J.M. Nouwen called The Spirituality of Fundraising. I kind of laughed… how can fundraising be spiritual? But this book was perfect for me. Why? Because it’s not too long, it’s a real thin book (60 pages or so on 4×6 sheets of paper), and it appeared to be a quick read. So I tried it.
Would you know that it is a DEEP book full of wonderful, eye-opening truths?!?! I soon discovered that Nouwen has an elegant way of wording things and an outlook that changed my view on raising money. I began understanding just how spiritual fundraising can be as Nouwen used scriptures and stories to convey how finances and Christ-like, abundant living are linked.
Some things I’ve gleaned from this book and the Bible…
1. It starts with Prayer!
“From the beginning to the end, fundraising is grounded in prayer & undertaken in gratitude.”
Page 55
“Once we are prayerfully committed to placing our whole trust in God & have become clear that we are concerned only for the kingdom,…and once we believe that we have something of great value to give them, then we will have no trouble at all in asking someone for … money. We are free to ask for whatever we need with the confidence that we will get it. this is what the gospel say: “Ask, and it will be given to you;…knock, and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7.”
Page 44-45
2. Get excited about what you believe and speak boldly!
“Fundraising is proclaiming what we believe in such a way that offer other people an opportunity to participate with us in our vision and mission.” Nouwen goes on to say… “Fundraising is precisely the opposite of begging.”
Page 16
3. Ask people to share in the vision/mission!
“Asking people for money is giving them the opportunity to put their resources at the disposal of the kingdom. To raise money is to offer people the chance to invest what they have in the work of God.”
Page 45-46
”We have a vision that is amazing and exciting. We are inviting you to invest yourself through the resources that God has given you—your energy, your prayers, and your money—in this work to which God has called us.”
Page 17
In the Bible, Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 (NIV), to generously give…
“6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:
“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever.”
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God…”
So as I apply what I’ve learned, I am praying that the Lord’s will be done, and I trust that He will guide me through what is to come. I am excited and honored that He has chosen me to go on this journey with Him, to share His love boldly to all people. I ask my family, friends, and fellow believers to join the mission and encourage them to give generously, as I do the same.
Join me as we have all been given a mission…
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:19-20 (KJV)
